ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WKBW) — The first steel beam was installed at the new Buffalo Bills stadium in Orchard Park on Friday. The Bills organization says the project is right on schedule.
"We're really talking about another 12 or so months of steel before you'll see the full skeleton in place," Erie County Stadium Corporation President Steve Ranalli said. "I think this is what the governor envisioned when she decided to put $600 million into this stadium. It was to create union jobs, construction work, and to make sure we keep the Bills in town for another 30 years."
Construction crews have taken pride in their work and shared their excitement with 7 News last Friday when signing the steel beam.
"It makes you want to get up and go to work and put your 110% in," heavy equipment operator Cleveland Wright said.
Ranalli added, "We completed the excavation with over 500,000 cubic yards of material. We've got about 40–50% of the foundation already in place. Now the steel starts and sort of chases that around the bowl. As we complete, the steel will go around level by level over the next year or so."
Almost 100% of the steel will be American-made.
The new stadium is set to make its debut for the 2026 season.
